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A Lib Dem candidate for Birmingham City Council is being targeted by a hate campaign after complaining about gay men using a local park for sex.

Michael Mullaney is standing for re-election in the Moseley and Kings Heath ward.

He used YouTube to highlight anti-social behaviour by gay cruisers.

It has now been decided to cut back the bushes in Highbury Park.

A warden patrolling the park will in future have radio communications equipment.

Recently signs have appeared near Mr Mullaney’s home, supposedly directing people to “Mullaney’s Paedophile Palace.”

He has complained to police about the signs but says he refuses to take them down as an act of defiance.

“I suspect this latest attack is the work of one of the gangs of men who use Highbury Park to have sex underneath the laurel bushes during daylight hours,” Mr Mullaney told the Birmingham Evening Mail.

Fellow Lib Dem Emily Cox, who also appeared in the YouTube report, has been subject to threats from men telling her to leave the issue alone.

Local residents and allotment users had complained about gangs of men using areas of the park for sex during the day.

“Since that video went out I have received a threatening letter from one of these men and council colleagues have been shouted at in Mayfield Road, north Moseley,” Mr Mullaney told the Birmingham Evening Mail.

Defending the decision to highlight daytime cruising, Mr Mullaney said he would object just as strongly to heterosexual people using the park for sex.

He responded to accusations he is anti-gay on YouTube:

“With regards to homophobic – well I’m a weird homophobe since I support gay marriage and gay couples adopting children. So how do you square that?

“I just don’t want anyone, whatever their sexual orientation, having sex in a public park in broad daylight.”

To watch the councillors report on cruising at Highbury Park click here

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